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The Aquarium Age: Oct. 5-11

Astrology, Expand

The Aquarium Age: Oct. 5-11

This week and for the next several weeks the planets reflect the mounting political tension, not just in America, but all around the world. Only 34 days remain until a new American President is elected, but the chaos of our current political, economic and existential situations are not just happening in the United States. We’re in a global crisis generated by vast divisions in perspectives, priorities and worldviews about how we can survive the stress of an entire planet trying sustain itself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The fascia of life’s vital force on the Blue Planet—the web that holds us together and in place—is trying to adjust and in many cases evolve. And part of that adjustment process is working through the massive resistance to change that seems to be having its moment, not only through Mr. Trump but others like him. The resistance to change—the shadow that has yet to be integrated into our collective consciousness—shows itself through the people who support the would-be leaders who are willing to say and do anything to consolidate power. And those supporters are the real threat.

From an astrological perspective, this embodied resistance to change is directly related to the seven Uranus/Pluto squares that occurred between June 2012 and April 2015. Those squares signify fractious interactions related to issues of social justice—race, gender, financial, and religious equality—and these interactions are part of an astral cycle that started in the mid-1960s, a cycle that’s best characterized as a period of unrest and upheaval that sparked and ignited change. (See previous columns for a more detailed explanation.) It’s not that racism or sexism or poverty or bigotry didn’t exist before this Uranus/Pluto cycle. It’s simply that those issues cannot be ignored during this planetary cycle. And even though history teaches that resistance is futile, the constant barrage of resistance takes its toll.

There’s no softening the toxicity of the current resistance to change—it is volatile, violent and detrimental to far too many. In the wake of the 60s, Ronald Reagan was the quiet voice of the Silent Majority and its resistance to social justice. Now it is the brash voice of Donald Trump, who speaks before he thinks, perhaps because he is channeling the unbridled energy of the hate mongers who don’t care what their words engender or the harm that occurs when ignorance is glorified and glamorized. In Shikasta, which was published in 1979, Doris Lessing called television the propaganda machine—and it still is. But it’s been superseded by a new, improved version: The Internet, the propaganda machine on steroids.

Mars is at the center of the tension for the next several weeks. Mars is the symbol for self-assertion, from the lowest forms of unspecified, global rage to the highest forms of self-actualization. Mars signifies the ability to take a stand for oneself. It embodies the ability to individuate and initiate, as well as to know oneself as separate and distinct from others. Among its many attributes, Mars also represents ambition and competition—it is the warrior, ready to fight for its beliefs.

Mars is currently in Capricorn, and this week it begins moving steadfastly into a conjunction with Pluto, also in Capricorn, a conjunction that’s exact and separating on October 19. This is a pernicious interaction that often manifests as the need to succeed at any cost, a need that often translates into sheer brute force and ruthless cruelty. Curiously, this conjunction occurs minutes away from the exact degree Pluto occupied during its seventh and final square to Uranus on March 17, 2015. Even more curiously, on Election Day Pluto will be only minutes past that exact position. It will be quite tempting to throw caution to the wind and spew forth under this influence, no matter what side of the great divide you are on. Do your best to keep your calm—the world is saturated with hatred; it doesn’t need more.

What the world needs now is love, and social justice is love made manifest through the collective. This is not some ancient hippie idea (although even if it is that’s fine—or should I say groovy?). Love is the answer as well as the antidote the world and her inhabitants are craving. It’s the great unifier. And it is winning, even if the current vitriolic tumult looks as if it’s trumping the good at heart. Love may not be winning as quickly as many would like, but those who already embrace a compassionate stance know the solution to our survival, personal and planetary, is in personal transformation, which is ultimately the transformation of the heart. Eventually enough hearts will move away from hatred and embrace kindness and compassion as a way of coping with the myriad issues we face as a planet. It’s only a matter of time because love is inevitable. As Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote: “Love is the most durable power in the world.” And when we live that truth, every life and every day is a revelation.

AriesMarch 21-April 19
While certain family issues, specifically the needs of family members who could require immediate attention, the bulk of the challenge is mostly work-related. As you make your way through a maze of demands, be sure to make patience your constant companion, especially when dealing with associates or clients who have trouble seeing the big picture.

TaurusApril 20-May 20
You’re confronting belief systems, yours or others’, and although certain aspects of this process are sure to be uncomfortable, other parts are just as sure to deliver positive results. Experiencing the benefits requires keeping an open mind as well as an open heart. No matter how much you may disagree, it’s always a good idea to understand another point of view.

Gemini May 21-June 21
You can frame the tension as financial—you want to tighten the budget while your partners, personal or professional, resist your thrifty mindset. Or you can contextualize what’s happening as a crisis of values—yours versus the value systems of others. Either way, the best way of handling this tension is the willingness to transform your awareness and approach.

Cancer June 22-July 22
The focus is on relationships and figuring out how to handle interactions, should the atmosphere turns tense. There are no easy solutions or quick-fixes to apply. No matter how the tension manifests, what’s needed is the ability to find a balance that recognizes the needs of those involved. So find compromises that benefit everyone and you’ll emerge successful.

Leo July 23-August 22
Anticipate frustration as you attempt to manage several areas of life that need more attention and care than you may have time to spare. I’m not suggesting you give up or that you martyr yourself. I’m advising you to prioritize your efforts: Put yourself and your health first, and then organize the rest of your time around that primary concern.

VirgoAugust 23-September 22
The challenge is transforming the tension into a creative process that enables you to turn your personal lemons into lemonade. You can follow Beyoncé’s lead and make a music video expressing your anger or you can find your own way of getting your message across. Whatever method you chose, just be sure it is true to you—that alone will heal the situation.

LibraSeptember 23-October 22
Rather than react to the tension by hunkering down into a rigid position that requires everyone to see it your way, let go of the need to produce a specific outcome. For while it may be difficult to surrender your desires, it’s much wiser to create an atmosphere where everyone’s needs are met because the ground of compromise allows each person to feel seen.

ScorpioOctober 23-November 21
You can use your words as weapons or you can use them to soothe and smooth the ruffled egos of all the players—it’s up to you. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but it isn’t. Sometimes it’s beneficial to name the problem, even if that bruises images and personas. Other times, it’s better to simply create a calm and healing environment that benefits all.

SagittariusNovember 22-December 21
The mounting tension could present as a financial crisis, but it could just as easily manifest as a crisis of self-esteem and self-confidence. In a world that uses bank balances as a way of assessing true value, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters. No matter what your portfolio says, anchor your bottom line in a deep sense of your ultimate worth, which can’t be measured in dollars and cents.

CapricornDecember 22-January 19
You’re managing a lot of personal power, and the challenge is handling that power without becoming a despot. So even though you have a clear idea of how things should be done, take a deep breath and allow others their process. Yes, I know that won’t be easy, but a great leader doesn’t order people around—a great leader inspires by example.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
You’re likely to feel the mounting tension as a compulsive need to chew on previous experiences with the hope of figuring out how to fix situations that are out of your control. Be careful: That mulling could easily turn into a brooding Brain Worm, that famous mental parasite that steals your precious mental energy. Think, but don’t overthink.

PiscesFebruary 19-March 20
It’s a choice: You can engage in battle with anyone you perceive as challenging your authority, or you can dial down the emotional need for confrontation and save your battle cries for situations that really matter. Of course, I am advising the dial-down, but that choice requires discipline and devotion to a Higher Power.